‘Israel Holding MidEast Hostage by Shunning Arab Peace Offer’

Jordan’s King Abdullah II said Monday that an Arab peace initiative offers a solution for peace in the Middle East, adding that Israel should use the opportunity or risk ongoing conflict in the region.

“Israel must decide whether they want to observe this opportunity and become integrated in the region or whether they want to remain a fortress … and keep the Middle East hostage in conflict,” Abdullah said in Bucharest, during an official visit.

The king met Romanian President Traian Basescu Monday and discussed bilateral issues and the urgent need for peace in the Middle East.

The 2002 Saudi initiative offers Israel recognition by all Arab countries in exchange for withdrawal from territory captured in the 1967 Six-Day War, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and a just solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees.

Basescu said he and Abdullah also discussed the possibility that Romanian and Jordanian companies start working in Iraq after the troops retreat, and even before.

Romania and Jordan signed four documents on bilateral cooperation during the king’s visit to Bucharest. They deal with economic cooperation, the mutual protection of investments, cultural and scientific cooperation and environmental protection.

Abdullah was accompanied by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al Ali.

The Jordanian king was on a tour of Eastern Europe. He was also due to visit the Czech Republic and Slovakia.